Rhian Brewster: Champions League Winner Return to Premier League - A Painful Reminder?

The celebrations with the shirt being worn displaying their names in front such a distant that memory some would argue (rhetorically of course) that it was from another era altogether. But the truth is that it was not all that long ago and Rhian Brewster, the star of the tournament with most goals in India still has his whole career ahead of him and has not even entered his prime years as a striker yet. 

A prolific scorer at youth level with Chelsea, Liverpool and the English youth teams was tipped for greatness and some even touted him as the spiritual successor of Daniel Sturridge as they both share Chelsea and Liverpool as clubs. Both of them have a UEFA Champions league medal to their name even though he did not feature for them in that campaign but it is till a great club to be a part of none the less.

It seemed Brewster could do no wrong as his loan spell at Swansea in the championship saw him deliver a return of a goal almost every other game. He is a good foundation for a young striker to build upon especially someone considered as generational at the youth level and someone who was considered an asset. A managers team due to his pressing, work rate and overall play even when he was not contributing to  the team by sticking it into the back of opposition nets.

When he moved clubs and to the shock of neutrals and the then Liverpool fans alike at losing such a promising young academy prospect. When the Blades bought him from Liverpool for a club record £23.5million in October 2020 it was viewed as a stepping stone for the young lad to get more game time  and take his game to the next level. Brewster impressed in pre-season in 2020 and came on in Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. 

Apart from a handful of cup matches regular gametime in a star studded Klopp squad was always hard to come by. But nobody could have predicted the horrid time he would end up enduring with the blades which has now lasted almost half a decade. He has only got a handful goals in about half a century of matches marred by constant injury woes and woeful form when fit in their two relegation campaigns in the premier league as well as in the championship. Where Sheffield United thrived but Brewster has had horrible luck with injuries during that period.

Brewster’s five-year deal, worth a reported £35,000-a-week, expires next summer and no one has been able to get him going whether it is Paul Heckingbottom or Slavisa Jokanovic. Even though Wilder is back at Bramall Lane for a second spell, his future could potentially be away from the club since he has not been able to live up to the massive promise he had showcased during his early years. It had prompted Wilder to praise him in public and subsequently lead to the Sheffield United board pay over the odds when they themselves operate on a shoestring budget. This was viewed as coup that would turn a new leaf in their stay at the Premier League but has turned out to be anything but that.

Now it is highly likely that United are going to drop down the division into the championship once again which means reduced budgets and wages. But if Wilder and Co are able to engineer a sensational great escape and survive in the top flight, then Rhian Brewster can hope to extend his time as a Blades player which is very unlikely.

Cover Credits - BBC